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{{About|the football club named FC Caracal between 2004-2013|the club founded in 1924 and dissolved in 2004, which also used the name FC Caracal|FC Progresul Caracal}}
{{Infobox football club
| clubname = FC Caracal
| image = FC Caracal.png
| image_size = 180px
| fullname = Fotbal Club Caracal
| nickname =
| founded = {{Start date and years ago|df=yes|1949}}<br />as ''Metalul Craiova''
| dissolved = {{Start date and years ago|df=yes|2013}}
| ground = Various
| capacity = 12,000
| chairman =
| manager =
| season =
| position =
| pattern_la1=|pattern_b1=|pattern_ra1=
| leftarm1=006DAE|body1=006DAE|rightarm1=006DAE|shorts1=006DAE|socks1=006DAE
| pattern_la2=|pattern_b2=|pattern_ra2=
| leftarm2=FFFFFF|body2=FFFFFF|rightarm2=FFFFFF|shorts2=FFFFFF|socks2=FFFFFF
}}
'''Fotbal Club Caracal''' was a [[Romania]]n professional [[football (soccer)|football]] [[football team|club]] from [[Caracal, Romania|Caracal]], [[Olt County]]. The club's best period was in the early 90s when '''Electroputere Craiova''', as it was called then, played four consecutive seasons in the [[Divizia A|Romanian first league]]. The best ranking was obtained in the [[Divizia A 1991–92|1991–92]] season when finished 3rd and qualified to [[UEFA Cup]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://welovesport.ro/stiri/fotbal-vintage-povestea-rivalitatii-fotbalistice-in-craiova-11577|title=Povestea rivalității fotbalistice în Craiova|trans-title=The story of football rivalry in Craiova|date=1 June 2021|accessdate=12 March 2024|publisher=welovesport.ro|archive-date=12 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240312081118/https://welovesport.ro/stiri/fotbal-vintage-povestea-rivalitatii-fotbalistice-in-craiova-11577|url-status=live}}{{in lang|ro}}</ref>

==History==
Amid the rapid industrialization of [[Craiova]] in the early 1950s, a distinct football identity began to take shape, closely linked to the newly established [[Electroputere]] plant. Founded in 1949, the team—originally known as Metalul Craiova—was made up largely of workers from the factory.<ref name="fotbalul craiovean">Gheorghe Rădulescu, Alexandru Firescu și Nicolae Opriș, Fotbalul craiovean de-a lungul anilor (Craiova football over the years) – Editura Scrisul Românesc 1981.</ref>

While their initial performances in the [[Liga IV Dolj|regional championship]] were unremarkable, the team soon gained attention for its dynamic playing style and growing fanbase. Notable players from this era included Marin Năstase, Rici Smarandache, Constantin Monțescu, Dumitru Grigorescu, Nicolae Razga, Vasile Constantin, and Dumitru Hecher.<ref name="fotbalul craiovean"/>

The 1950 season reflected the team's unpredictable nature: after three consecutive defeats, a series of four straight victories followed, leading to a final 5th place finish.<ref name="fotbalul craiovean"/>

Renamed Metalul Electroputere, the team saw fluctuating results in the following years. In 1956, after a modest campaign, relegation to the city championship occurred, followed by a name change to Energia Electroputere. Under the guidance of coach Lambru Dunăreanu, a revival began. After a 3rd-place finish in the [[1958–59 Regional Championship#Craiova Region|1958–59]] season, Electroputere went on to win the [[Liga IV Dolj|Craiova Regional Championship]] in the [[1959–60 Regional Championship#Craiova Region|1959–60]] season. However, promotion to [[Divizia B]] was missed, with a 3rd-place finish behind [[Aurul Brad]] and [[Chimia Govora]] in the [[1959–60 Regional Championship#Promotion play-off|promotion play-off]] held in [[Ploiești]].<ref name="fotbalul craiovean"/>

A merger with the football section of CFR Craiova led to the formation of CFR Electroputere, which took over the railway club’s spot in Divizia B for the [[1960–61 Divizia B|1960–61]] season. The presence in the second tier proved short-lived, ending in relegation after just one season, with a 13th-place finish in Series II. However, during [[1960–61 Cupa României|that campaign]], CFR Electroputere managed to reach the Round of 32 in the [[Cupa României]], suffering a 2–4 defeat against [[CSA Steaua București (football)|CCA București]].<ref name="fotbalul craiovean"/>

In the following years, the team resumed activity under the name Electroputere, competing in the [[Liga IV Dolj|Oltenia Regional Championship]] while maintaining the ambition to reach the national divisions. At that time, the squad included Țecu Smarandache, Ion Belu, Vasile Vrejotis, Octavian Romeo, Venus Ciocîlteu, Ștefan Anghel, Matei Constantin, Stelian Chilom, Nicu Constantin, Ion Drăgan, and Ion Militaru. After finishing 2nd in the [[1961–62 Regional Championship#Oltenia Region|1961–62]] season, a 3rd-place finish in the [[1962–63 Regional Championship#Oltenia Region|1962–63]] campaign secured promotion to the newly re-established [[Divizia C]]. Among the team members during this period were also Nicolae Stere, Vică Oprea, Lili Popescu, and Virgil Resciuc..<ref name="fotbalul craiovean"/>

Over the next five seasons, Electroputere competed in the West Series of Divizia C, finishing 10th in [[1963–64 Divizia C|1963–64]], 6th in [[1964–65 Divizia C|1964–65]], 4th in [[1965–66 Divizia C|1965–66]], and 3rd in [[1966–67 Divizia C|1966–67]]. With the arrival of [[Nicolae Oțeleanu]] as head coach, the team achieved promotion to [[Divizia B]] after winning the West Series in the [[1967–68 Divizia C|1967–68]] season. The squad during that successful campaign included Gh. Spinghel, Marin Bădici, Marian Terpovici, Nicu Constantin, Stelian Chilom, Emanoil Păunescu, Alexandru Stănescu, Marin Dașcu, Mihai Gavrilă, Iulian Popa, Marin Florescu, Matei Constantin, Firică Bulfan, George Sterie, Dan Cosci, Marin Bărbuț, Iulian Bălosu, [[Victor Niculescu]], Virgil Resciuc, Dumitru Lovin, Cornel Chesnoiu, Constantin Țîră, Ion Nemțuc, and Constantin Nica.<ref name="fotbalul craiovean"/>

In the following decade, Electro competed in Series II of the [[Divizia B|second division]], recording a string of fluctuating results. In the [[1968–69 Divizia B|1968–69]] and [[1969–70 Divizia B|1969–70]] seasons, the team finished in 7th place. This was followed by a period of decline, with a 13th place finish in [[1970–71 Divizia B|1970–71]], with Clement Iordănescu coaching in the first half and Constantin Voroncovschi in the second, and a 14th place finish in [[1971–72 Divizia B|1971–72]], with Octavian Romeo in charge during the first half and Nicolae Opriș in the second. The team was tied on points with five other sides and narrowly avoided relegation at goal difference.<ref>Mihai Ionescu & George Tudoran, Fotbal de la A la Z – Editura Sport-Turism 1984.</ref><ref name="fotbalul craiovean"/>

In the [[1972–73 Divizia B|1972–73]] season, Electroputere again finished in 13th place, with Clement Iordănescu on the bench. The [[1973–74 Divizia B|1973–74]] campaign, under the command of [[Haralambie Eftimie]], ended with an 8th place finish and a [[1973–74 Cupa României|notable appearance]] in the [[Cupa României]], where the team reached the round of 32, being eliminated 0–2 after extra time by [[SC Tulcea]]. In that match, the lineup was composed of Mîniosu, Cotoșman, Tacoi (35’ Vîlceleanu), Bîtlan, Toma, Morovan (68’ Niță), Stanciu, Mincioagă, [[Marian Bondrea|Bondrea]], Pelea, and Șarpe.

The [[1974–75 Divizia B|1974–75]] season brought a new peak in form, with the team finishing in 5th place under [[Gheorghe Dungu]]. The performance was repeated in [[1975–76 Divizia B|1975–76]] with [[Ștefan Coidum]] as head coach, but in the [[1976–77 Divizia B|following season]], Electroputere dropped to 9th place. In [[1977–78 Divizia B|1977–78]], with Petre Petculescu as coach, the team ended in 13th place, and in the [[1978–79 Divizia B|1978–79]] season, it finished 16th in Series II, being relegated to [[Divizia C]] after eleven consecutive years in the [[Divizia B|second division]].

In the middle of the 2003–04 season, Extensiv changed its name to FC Craiova, but with no connection to the [[FC Craiova]] that existed between 1940 and 1949.

In 2004 the club was moved to [[Caracal, Romania|Caracal]] and renamed ''FC Caracal''.

FC Caracal ended the [[2012–13 Liga III|2012–13 season]] in second place, but after years of poor management and bad decisions, the club was dissolved in the summer of 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://liga2.prosport.ro/liga-3/stiri/fc-caracal-nu-s-a-inscris-in-liga-a-iii-a-11127895|title=FC Caracal nu s-a înscris în Liga a III-a|language=ro|trans-title=FC Caracal did not inscribe to League III |date=17 July 2013|accessdate=2 June 2024|publisher=liga2.prosport.ro|archive-date=2 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240602164120/https://liga2.prosport.ro/liga-3/stiri/fc-caracal-nu-s-a-inscris-in-liga-a-iii-a-11127895|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Chronology of names==

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; text-align: left;"
|-
! Name <ref name="name">{{cite web|url=http://www.romaniansoccer.ro/stiri/16668/evolutia-denumirilor-echipelor-de-a-lungul-anilor.htm|title=Evoluția denumirilor echipelor de-a lungul anilor|trans-title=Evolution of team names over the years|accessdate=18 October 2023|publisher=romaniansoccer.ro|archive-date=9 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171009104123/http://www.romaniansoccer.ro/stiri/16668/evolutia-denumirilor-echipelor-de-a-lungul-anilor.htm|url-status=live}}{{in lang|ro}}</ref> !! Period
|-
| Metalul Craiova || 1949–1956
|-
| Energia Electroputere Craiova || 1957–1958
|-
| Electroputere Craiova || 1958–1960
|-
| CFR Electroputere Craiova || 1960–1961
|-
| Electroputere Craiova || 1961–1998
|-
| Extensiv Craiova || 1998–2003
|-
| FC Craiova || 2003–2004
|-
| FC Caracal || 2004–2013
|}

==Honours==
'''[[Liga II]]'''
*'''Winners (2):''' [[1990–91 Divizia B|1990–91]], [[1998–99 Divizia B|1998–99]]
*Runners-up (2): [[1996–97 Divizia B|1996–97]], [[1997–98 Divizia B|1997–98]]
'''[[Liga III]]'''
*'''Winners (3):''' [[1967–68 Divizia C|1967–68]], [[1984–85 Divizia C|1984–85]], [[1989–90 Divizia C|1989–90]]
*Runners-up (6): [[1979–80 Divizia C|1979–80]], [[1980–81 Divizia C|1980–81]], [[1981–82 Divizia C|1981–82]], [[1982–83 Divizia C|1982–83]], [[2008–09 Liga III|2008–09]], [[2012–13 Liga III#Seria III|2012–13]]

'''[[Liga IV Dolj|Dolj Regional Championship]]:'''
*'''Winners (1):''' [[1959–60 Regional Championship#Craiova Region|1959–60]]
*Runners-up (1): [[1961–62 Regional Championship#Oltenia Region|1961–62]]

==Electroputere Craiova in Europe==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
! style="width:250px; background:#dcdcdc;"|Competition
! style="width:35px; background:#dcdcdc;"|{{Tooltip| S | Seasons}}
! style="width:35px; background:#dcdcdc;"|{{Tooltip| P | Played}}
! style="width:35px; background:#dcdcdc;"|{{Tooltip| W | Won}}
! style="width:35px; background:#dcdcdc;"|{{Tooltip| D | Drawn}}
! style="width:35px; background:#dcdcdc;"|{{Tooltip| L | Lost}}
! style="width:35px; background:#dcdcdc;"|{{Tooltip| GF | Goals for}}
! style="width:35px; background:#dcdcdc;"|{{Tooltip| GA | Goals against}}
! style="width:35px; background:#dcdcdc;"|{{Tooltip| GD | Goal difference}}
|-
|align=left|[[UEFA Europa League]] / [[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]]
|1||2||0||0||2||0||10||– 10
|-
| '''Total'''
|'''1'''||'''2'''||'''0'''||'''0'''||'''2'''||'''0'''||'''10'''||'''– 10'''
|}

==Recent seasons==
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="text-align:center; background:#dfdfdf;"
| '''Season'''
| '''Name'''
| '''Division'''
| '''Position'''
|-
| 1990–91
| Electroputere Craiova
| Liga II
| 1st
|-
| 1991–92
| Electroputere Craiova
| Liga I
| 3rd
|-
| 1992–93
| Electroputere Craiova
| Liga I
| 6th
|-
| 1993–94
| Electroputere Craiova
| Liga I
| 14th
|-
| 1994–95
| Electroputere Craiova
| Liga I
| 15th
|-
| 1995–96
| Electroputere Craiova
| Liga II
| 8th
|-
| 1996–97
| Electroputere Craiova
| Liga II
| 2nd
|-
| 1997–98
| Electroputere Craiova
| Liga II
| 2nd
|-
| 1998–99
| Extensiv Craiova
| Liga II
| 1st
|-
| 1999–00
| Extensiv Craiova
| Liga I
| 18th
|-
| 2000–01
| Extensiv Craiova
| Liga II
| 5th
|-
| 2001–02
| Extensiv Craiova
| Liga II
| 4th
|-
| 2002–03
| Extensiv Craiova
| Liga II
| 8th
|-
| 2003–04
| FC Craiova
| Liga II
| 9th
|-
| 2004–05
| FC Caracal
| Liga II
| 9th
|-
| 2005–06
| FC Caracal
| Liga II
| 9th
|-
| 2006–07
| FC Caracal
| Liga II
| 7th
|-
| 2007–08
| FC Caracal
| Liga II
| 17th
|-
| 2008–09
| FC Caracal
| Liga III
| 2nd
|-
| 2009–10
| FC Caracal
| Liga III
| 10th
|}

==Notable former players==
The footballers mentioned below have played at least 1 season for the club and also played in [[Liga I]] for another team.
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* {{Flagicon|ROU}} [[Sorin Cârțu]]
* {{Flagicon|ROU}} [[Adrian Ilie]]
* {{Flagicon|ROU}} [[Sabin Ilie]]
* {{Flagicon|ROU}} [[Silviu Lung]]
* {{Flagicon|ROU}} [[Ionel Dănciulescu]]
* {{Flagicon|ROU}} [[Gheorghe Ciurea]]
* {{Flagicon|ROU}} [[Mircea Bornescu]]
* {{Flagicon|ROU}} [[Ionel Gane]]
* {{Flagicon|ROU}} [[Eugen Neagoe]]
* {{Flagicon|ROU}} [[Lucian Cotora]]
* {{Flagicon|ROU}} [[Silvian Cristescu]]
* {{Flagicon|ROU}} [[Mirel Rădoi]]
{{div col end}}

==Former managers==
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* {{Flagicon|Romania}} [[Rudolf Bürger]] (1951–1952)
* {{flagicon|Romania}} [[Nicolae Oțeleanu]] (1967–1968)
* {{flagicon|Romania}} Octavian Romeo (1971)
* {{flagicon|Romania}} Nicolae Opriș (1972)
* {{flagicon|Romania}} Clement Iordănescu (1972–1973)
* {{Flagicon|Romania}} [[Haralambie Eftimie]] (1973–1974)
* {{Flagicon|Romania}} [[Gheorghe Dungu]] (1974–1975)
* {{flagicon|Romania}} [[Ștefan Coidum]] (1975–1977)
* {{flagicon|Romania}} Petre Petculescu (1977–1979)
* {{flagicon|Romania}} [[Sorin Cârțu]] (1987–1988)
* {{flagicon|Romania}} [[Marian Bondrea]] (1989–1992)
* {{flagicon|Romania}} [[Sorin Cârțu]] (1993)
* {{flagicon|Romania}} [[Ioan Sdrobiș]] (1996–1997)
* {{flagicon|Romania}} [[Sorin Cârțu]] (1997)
* {{flagicon|Romania}} [[Marian Bondrea]] (1997–1998)
* {{flagicon|Romania}} [[Grigore Sichitiu]] (1998–1999)
* {{flagicon|Romania}} [[Sorin Cârțu]] (1998–2002)
* {{flagicon|Romania}} [[Nicolae Ungureanu]] (2004–2006)
* {{flagicon|Romania}} [[Nicolae Negrilă]] (2006)
* {{flagicon|Romania}} [[Iordan Eftimie]] (2006)
* {{flagicon|Romania}} [[Emil Vlăduț]] (2007)
* {{flagicon|Romania}} [[Nicolae Ungureanu]] (2007)
* {{flagicon|Romania}} [[Florin Cioroianu]] (2007–2008)
* {{flagicon|Romania}} [[Daniel Mogoșanu]] (2008–2009)
* {{flagicon|Romania}} [[Gheorghe Ciurea]] (2009)
* {{flagicon|Romania}} [[Daniel Mogoșanu]] (2009–2010)
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Caracal}}
[[Category:Liga I clubs]]
[[Category:Liga II clubs]]
[[Category:Liga III clubs]]
[[Category:Association football clubs established in 1949]]
[[Category:Association football clubs disestablished in 2013]]
[[Category:Defunct football clubs in Romania]]
[[Category:Football clubs in Olt County]]
[[Category:Sport in Craiova]]
[[Category:1949 establishments in Romania]]
[[Category:Caracal, Romania]]
[[Category:Sports team and club relocations]]
[[Category:Football clubs in Gorj County]]

FC Caracal (2004) - Revision history

imported>Crowsus: added Category:Football clubs in Gorj County using HotCat